[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6535436,"mediaKeyId","3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24","parentId",3402565,"title","Votes at a glance: Meeker County Board actions on May 20, 2025","audioSeconds",1769,"startMs",246000,"endMs",2015000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24&start=246&end=2015","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24/thumbnail_246000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6535436/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Votes-at-a-glance-Meeker-County-Board-actions-on-May-20-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535436-3c0ca3a058d0656cdcf320495f03d9b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452939&Signature=DH41bqyf8RKXFk09skiYbN0vSE6usRkPniuE5fT2tQZgPcWbF36elc3yXdSxas6zj5B9a1Thw-anmTX6ljKaMEklmejiU-pDJOL2qFUHQw78jokE-ZQyMaTDRoCSG3f3Saey8yR7jSR0ZHHcm44e8S5YYRRt8HfEfNVkohbixuSK--ZpX8fGnfUXonBxhtSccNbrys2XdalmpdW4ixrTUK6WpdU8vGf7P2Yreoy2tC4p7Hn38SxcSiQEhqjZVSA8680iyJuLOr45SlQWsT56eDn8H3Q3RB8cvXgo2e6Ia7fNYfXoy3P0QUGmHj9j7uSHYBTY3FgxjIeBCFWwSDMdsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Meeker County","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Meeker County Board of Commissioners took the following recorded actions during its May 20, 2025 regular session.

• Agenda: The board adopted the meeting agenda as presented. Motion by Commissioner Schmidt; second by Commissioner Van Ort. Outcome: motion carried.

• Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda, which included approval of the May 6 board meeting minutes; approval of Health and Human Services, County and Hospital accounts payable; reappointment to the Sauk River Watershed District Board of Managers; and approval of a quote for ExacqVision security camera servers. Outcome: motion carried.

• Conditional Use Permit 16,588 (feedlot expansion): Approved. Motion by Commissioner Schmidt; second by Commissioner Van Ort. Staff described an increase from 1,650 animal units to 1,929.8 animal units with building additions and a required lagoon expansion. Outcome: approved; Land Use Department will coordinate permit conditions and lagoon work with the applicant.

• Preliminary plat — Asheville Shores 6 (three-lot preliminary plat): Approved. Motion by Commissioner Oldberg; second by Commissioner Samkee. The preliminary plat covers a 21.2-acre parcel; 4.6 acres will be platted into three lots with lot sizes and access described in staff materials. A previously granted variance allows nonstandard septic systems for the three lots.

• Final plat — Bayside Estate (two-lot final plat): Approved. Motion by Commissioner Psaki; second by Commissioner Van Ort. Lot sizes and access approvals were reviewed by staff and the county attorney’s representative; required owner and mortgage signatures must be satisfied before final recording.

• Billboard contract for suicide-prevention grant (Lamar; up to $15,800): Approved. The county public health unit requested contracting with Lamar for three billboards in Litchfield, Darwin and Grove City to display the 988 crisis lifeline and related messaging. Staff reported a vendor quote of $15,150. Motion by Commissioner Schmidt; second by Commissioner O'Bourke. Outcome: approved.

• Reclassification of finance director position from D61 to D71 scale: Approved. The county’s class and compensation committee recommended moving the finance director (county treasurer position) to the D71 pay scale to align the range with the market average ahead of active recruitment. Motion by Commissioner Oberg; second by Commissioner Schmidt. Outcome: approved; implementation timing to be managed by human resources.

Notes: In several votes the board recorded verbal “aye” responses but did not read a roll-call vote into the transcript; specific per-member vote records were not included in the public transcript excerpt. Where motion and second were recorded in the transcript, those names are shown above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 20, 2025, Meeker County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Meeker County Board approved the agenda, carried the consent agenda, and approved a feedlot conditional use permit, two plats, a billboard contract for a suicide-prevention grant, and a classification change for the finance director.","taxTitle","Meeker County, Minnesota","taxId",73314,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535441,"Commissioners approve conditional use permit for dairy expansion near Eden Valley",388,1024000,1412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24&start=1024&end=1412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24/thumbnail_1024000.jpg","/articles/6535441/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Commissioners-approve-conditional-use-permit-for-dairy-expansion-near-Eden-Valley","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535441-eb3666590f1d3ed1e58e24c9baaf6140/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452939&Signature=J1dV1qbNsFmaVVpgRHBZccAj8ik4X7bao6W9eqKZfWfdcBaBFVrOc-wub7r5BujwGTWWuFyimst4PxQKKsoRM4cCzpsRFf95iXYVyc92pH8pmQ0ZREEpxuv4Qd0AqEJjO3y6wklLNVMYIudpNWaYvAGEfRdd8G0o3IkqhpJTnFVV0GwFS04H5cAc-kq-QDc7bWz1FrBIZWP9Rr~JYcUari~sfmL~B0hltcFxk7b7Z5uDsmV3O02c7OIaE-pTkahO~SR0GqDoFSCuZNCJVPcVIFUtV6y9kF6UWud0gzenuQg1-~56M5oE14uM28vv8sZBWSOoFxC9ba2I8~QUwk-yWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greg, the county’s Land Use Records Director, presented a conditional use permit application for an existing dairy in Manana Township that seeks to increase capacity from 1,650 animal units to 1,929.8 animal units and to expand two buildings and the manure lagoon.

Greg identified the feedlot location as the Southwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 121, Range 31, Manana Township, and said the property is in an A-1 Preservation Zone. He said a variance previously allowed a Class C PDP (between 3,000 animal units) to be within an approved distance of Eden Valley city limits; a separate conditional use permit (No. 15534) was approved in January 2021 to allow 1,650 animal units and a 2024 permit allowed an on-site biodigester.

Greg said the present request includes a north-building addition of 60 by 108 feet, two south-building additions (one 60 by 108 feet) and a 138 by 108 foot expansion on the east side. He said the expansion does not change the previously approved encroachment and that current manure management uses the existing lagoon but that the lagoon will need expansion for the larger herd.

A county official familiar with the facility told commissioners the operation has been a “good neighbor” and that no members of the public appeared at the hearing to object.

Commissioner Schmidt moved to approve Conditional Use Permit 16,588 to allow a 1,929.8-unit feedlot with the described building expansions; Commissioner Van Ort seconded. The board voted to approve the permit.

The county did not record public objections at the meeting; Greg said the application had drawn no opposing speakers at the public hearing. The director noted the lagoon expansion and other permit conditions will be handled through the county’s feedlot and zoning regulations.","The Meeker County Board approved a conditional use permit to increase an existing dairy from 1,650 animal units to 1,929.8 animal units and to allow building and lagoon expansions on the site.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535446,"Meeker County officials highlight community paramedic program; responder reports 1,600-plus visits",807,1849000,2656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24&start=1849&end=2656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24/thumbnail_1849000.jpg","/articles/6535446/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-officials-highlight-community-paramedic-program-responder-reports-1600-plus-visits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535446-b2ac48239c3ce59f8d5e2c1e03266be1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452939&Signature=Up0m0PQzLLQSDw796DcEFDBqA0NWVVJhB8X-iSCQ~QCyCvTCG5llMcf-706VwgYSQOps-Wo0Y-JiNKs1kteuXt6P1nvqbDGCV~A1wuZxwbgCE~hF-Eh1~9CDcSUFgBwSoDhGMEpFHcd61F~w7KuOID0agkD~Da9DvHEjXi2V9anH6aCuYEWihKbFYOb6RQ5rHdlZWjbITlcHdocznEMutuJopobd5XWjtn2xYiHe5I3DTgnf8TFr7Q8qf4StPrtJEtDwa4x6tcOxzkjpzyFaWjJfHaTGlRODmX7ghY3DrjMLdY~9zupJk5KwL8NPxSGJpPGQ~z~sm4ZBOZocj7mjgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike Moller, Meeker County’s community paramedic, briefed the Board of Commissioners on May 20 about the program’s scope, saying he has responded to more than 1,600 calls since the program began and took more than 260 calls in the current year.

“Basically what this program does is brings services to those that don’t qualify under insurance, especially if they are not homebound,” Moller said, describing wellness visits, medication management, wound-care support and other non-emergent care that aims to reduce unnecessary emergency-department use.

Moller said he works by referral from primary care clinics or the hospital system; his medical direction and protocols come from a medical director, Dr. Jeff Hull, who performs weekly check-ins and case reviews. Moller also carries advanced-life-support (ALS) equipment so he can supplement volunteer rescue squads and local ambulance services when required.

The program has supported high-acuity incidents as well as preventative work. Moller described aiding a shooting victim in Lake Lillian and coordinating care that local officials said helped that patient survive. He also described follow-up visits for people identified as at risk of self-harm and said his non-uniform presence can make follow-up conversations easier for some individuals.

The sheriff’s office and county staff praised the program’s contributions. County officials noted a recent grant award that supplied automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and a Lucas mechanical CPR device for ambulance and law-enforcement use; Moller said the Lucas unit is the latest version and that its kit and batteries cost roughly $22,000.

Officials said the program increases ALS capacity in the county and helps keep people from recurring emergency use by addressing medication adherence, wound care and social-service connections. No new board action was required; commissioners heard the presentation and thanked Moller and his colleagues.","The county’s community paramedic described his visiting, preventive and advanced life-support work, including more than 1,600 calls to date, follow-ups for people at risk of self-harm, and a recently obtained Lucas mechanical CPR device.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535451,"Meeker County hospital reports strong start to 2025, says new facility planning depends on Lockerbie vacation",184,394000,578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24&start=394&end=578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3402565-0e5138f5f3fdc927c575f7fa8ecc6c24/thumbnail_394000.jpg","/articles/6535451/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-hospital-reports-strong-start-to-2025-says-new-facility-planning-depends-on-Lockerbie-vacation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535451-22b1d6c9001089ff013eafe98a5b7106/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452939&Signature=o5Drfm7HnJN4Ai1wKk30vOi8XGyPQXbc1EjtM8eMoeEx-jtu1lHYMgyrg7y9zuxumOuS7a0pvsl3vVgcpf6xTfxuiWA55koqRNgY~TuSOfFDqGQ8W7iAY50kI12Bwjq7FKGHkurjoXg0j5WOJmnagbrz-SHNP0LdGb9uqQQNmG6ewncCsIeg0QjV5esdT6X2a2QcMj7G9n0oFNWAShgRwUIaNpZvlb3fCd9lzEyDncG6egQmAQlC84D4gYp7rNinGDlO8daVKTrxMewa7x1WGjr1R8XPaPmzxOb7kzcgGTGkcc0iHCJeJW3mksj9ZJc-Dmf6TomJdDY7CFekJxfklQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mary Ellen, a hospital representative, told the Meeker County Board of Commissioners on May 20 that the county hospital opened 2025 with “a very, very good” financial start and that planning is under way for a new facility if site and city approvals align.

Tyler, the hospital finance representative, said the facility’s operating margin through February stood at 13.9 percent and that days cash on hand is growing while days in accounts receivable remain low. “Revenue is coming from. Expenses, we’re under budget on expenses so far this year,” Tyler said, describing the early-year trends.

The hospital has started a pharmacy relocation project and passed a recent inspection, Mary Ellen said. Hospital representatives are also finalizing cost estimates for a new ambulatory facility. They said two steps are linked: the county or hospital must secure agreement to vacate the Lockerbie property and obtain city planning and zoning approvals before a firm project budget and formal bidding can proceed.

“The traffic study has come back and the parking study has come back with very positive results,” Mary Ellen said, adding the hospital plans to put construction costs out to bid this summer and, if everything lines up, move forward in the fall with a construction timeline of about 20 months.

Hospital staff noted the hospital’s status as a critical access hospital and described a pending annual Medicare cost report process with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that they said should be favorable and could result in a settlement for 2024 and modest rate increases in 2025.

Commissioners asked about benchmarks for operating margin. Tyler said the hospital budgeted a 2 percent margin for the year but that a healthy target for a facility of this size to support capital reinvestment would typically be 3 to 4 percent. He cautioned that margins often normalize over a year as planned replacements and other expenses occur.

The update included recognition of long-serving clinicians and news that a physician had performed a high volume of surgeries; hospital leaders noted a recent local award presented to Dr. Deb Peterson by CentraCare.

If the Lockerbie vacating and city planning approvals are obtained, hospital leaders said they expect to have a firm cost estimate by late summer and, if bidders and financing align, could proceed with construction bids this fall.

The board did not take any binding action on the facility during the meeting; members instead heard the update and asked for more detail in future reports. The hospital representatives said they will return with additional financial and project information as planning continues.","Meeker County hospital leaders told county commissioners the hospital began 2025 with a healthy operating margin, described an ongoing pharmacy relocation, and said a potential new ambulatory facility hinges on vacating the Lockerbie site and city approvals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Meeker County Board actions on May 20, 2025

Commissioners approve conditional use permit for dairy expansion near Eden Valley

Meeker County officials highlight community paramedic program; responder reports 1,600-plus visits

Meeker County hospital reports strong start to 2025, says new facility planning depends on Lockerbie vacation